Solar energy apparatus and method

ABSTRACT

Disclosed embodiments include multi-plane photovoltaic modules and/or solar panel arrangements, as well as solar farms constituted with such arrangements/modules. In embodiments, a solar panel arrangement may include a first solar panel having a first plurality of solar photovoltaic modules, disposed at a first plane; and a second solar panel having a second plurality of solar photovoltaic modules, disposed at a second plane, vertically offset from the first plane. Similarly, in embodiments, a photovoltaic module may include a first substrate having a first plurality of photovoltaic cells, disposed at a first plane; and a second substrate having a second plurality of photovoltaic cells, disposed at a second plane, vertically offset from the first plane. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to the field of solar energy. Moreparticularly, the present disclosure relates to multi-level photovoltaicmodules and solar panels.

BACKGROUND

The background description provided herein is for the purpose ofgenerally presenting the context of the disclosure. Unless otherwiseindicated herein, the materials described in this section are not priorart to the claims in this application and are not admitted to be priorart by inclusion in this section.

With increased concerns for global warming, and sustainability of fossilfuels, there has been increased interest in renewable energy, includingsolar energy. Today, a solar panel typically includes one plane ofphotovoltaic modules. A solar farm would typically include hundreds orthousands of single plane solar planes spanning a large area. Recently,there has been development of photovoltaic modules that include threedimensional photovoltaic cells, in the form of towers. Photons would betrapped and allowed to be bounced around within a photovoltaic module,resulting in increase in photon absorption by the photovoltaic celltowers, and energy generation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments will be readily understood by the following detaileddescription in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. To facilitatethis description, like reference numerals designate like structuralelements. Embodiments are illustrated by way of example, and not by wayof limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a multi-level solar panelarrangement, according to the various embodiments.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example fractal pattern, suitable for use for thepresent disclosure, according to the various embodiments.

FIG. 3 illustrates a cross sectional view of the solar panel arrangementof FIG. 1, according to various embodiments.

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of a multi-level photovoltaicmodule, according to the various embodiments.

FIG. 5 illustrates the relationship between the vertical distanceseparating the panels/layers, the angle of incidence of light, and thelength of a solar panel/layer (segment), according to variousembodiments.

FIG. 6 illustrates a side view of the cover of FIG. 1, according tovarious embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Disclosed embodiments include multi-level photovoltaic modules and/orsolar panel arrangements, as well as solar farm constituted with sucharrangements/modules. In embodiments, a solar panel arrangement mayinclude a first solar panel having a first plurality of solarphotovoltaic modules, disposed at a first plane; and a second solarpanel having a second plurality of solar photovoltaic modules, disposedat a second plane, vertically offset from the first plane. Similarly, inembodiments, a photovoltaic module may include a first substrate havinga first plurality of photovoltaic cells, disposed at a first plane; anda second substrate having a second plurality of photovoltaic cells,disposed at a second plane, vertically offset from the first plane.

In the following detailed description, reference is made to theaccompanying drawings which form a part hereof wherein like numeralsdesignate like parts throughout, and in which is shown by way ofillustration embodiments that may be practiced. It is to be understoodthat other embodiments may be utilized and structural or logical changesmay be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.Therefore, the following detailed description is not to be taken in alimiting sense, and the scope of embodiments is defined by the appendedclaims and their equivalents.

Aspects of the disclosure are disclosed in the accompanying description.Alternate embodiments of the present disclosure and their equivalentsmay be devised without parting from the spirit or scope of the presentdisclosure. It should be noted that like elements disclosed below areindicated by like reference numbers in the drawings.

Various operations may be described as multiple discrete actions oroperations in turn, in a manner that is most helpful in understandingthe claimed subject matter. However, the order of description should notbe construed as to imply that these operations are necessarily orderdependent. In particular, these operations may not be performed in theorder of presentation. Operations described may be performed in adifferent order than the described embodiment. Various additionaloperations may be performed and/or described operations may be omittedin additional embodiments.

For the purposes of the present disclosure, the phrase “A and/or B”means (A), (B), or (A and B). For the purposes of the presentdisclosure, the phrase “A, B, and/or C” means (A), (B), (C), (A and B),(A and C), (B and C), or (A, B and C).

The description may use the phrases “in an embodiment,” or “inembodiments,” which may each refer to one or more of the same ordifferent embodiments. Furthermore, the terms “comprising,” “including,”“having,” and the like, as used with respect to embodiments of thepresent disclosure, are synonymous.

Referring now to FIG. 1, wherein a perspective view of a multi-levelsolar panel arrangement according to various embodiments, is shown. Asillustrated, arrangement 100 may include a number of solar panels, 102a, 102 b, and 102 c. Each of the solar panels 102 a-102 c may include anumber of photovoltaic modules, each having a number of photovoltaiccells 106. Further, each pair of the vertically adjacent solar panels102 a-102 b, or 102 b-102 c may be vertically offset from each other bya distance or height (H) 108. H 108 may vary between different pairs ofvertically adjacent solar panels (to be described in more detail below.)The vertical direction is depicted in FIG. 1 by arrow 114, with arrow114 pointing to the upward direction.

In embodiments, H 108 for a pair of vertically adjacent solar panels maybe selected based at least in part on the angle θ of incidence of lightduring the expected operational period, e.g., for some terrestrialareas, between 10 o'clock and 2 o'clock, and the length L 110 of theupper solar panel of the pair to reduce the shadow casted by the uppersolar panel of the pair onto the lower solar panel of the pair. Asillustrated in FIG. 5, if the angle of incidence of light 504 is θ, theshadow cast by the upper solar panel 502 of a pair with length L 502 maybe illustrated by the line of shadow 506. Thus, the desired inter paneldistance H 508 may be determined in accordance with the followingequation:

H=L*Tan(θ)   (1)

where Tan is the trigonometry function—tangent.

In other words, for terrestrial areas with θ equals 65 degrees, thevertical offset H 108 or 508 between a pair of vertically adjacentpanels 102 a-102 b or 102 b-102 c may be set to 1.73 of the length L ofthe upper solar panel 102 b or 102 c of the pair.

Before further describing multi-level solar panel arrangement 100, itshould also be noted, while for ease of understanding, multi-level solarpanel arrangement 100 is being described with three solar panels 102a-102 c. The description is not to be construed as limiting. The presentdisclosure may be practiced with less solar panels, e.g., two, or morethan three solar panels.

Continuing to refer to FIG. 1, in embodiments, to further enhance theefficiency of multi-level solar panel arrangement 100, a fractal patternmay be iteratively applied to the successive higher solar panels toallow more light to reach the lower solar panels. The application offractal pattern, including the implication on the selection ofinter-panel distance or height will now be described. In theseembodiments, except for the bottom solar panel 102 a, each ofintermediate solar panel 102 b and top solar panel 102 c may include twotypes of areas 104 a and 104 b. Each of areas 104 a may include one ormore photovoltaic modules having one or more photovoltaic cells 106.Whereas, each of areas 104 b may include a number of photonic openings,to allow light to travel through to the lower panels. In embodiments, aphotonic opening may be a physical opening, while in other embodiments,a photonic opening may be an effective opening constituted withmaterials that allow lights to travel through, e.g., glass.

In embodiments, the photovoltaic modules, together with the photonicopenings separating them, may be arranged in one or more fractalpatterns. In embodiments, the photovoltaic modules, together with thephotonic openings separating them, of a solar panel 102 c with length(L) 110 and width (L) 112, may be arranged in a Sierprinski Carpetfractal pattern. Referring now also to FIG. 2, wherein a SierprinskiCarpet fractal pattern is shown. The Sierprinski Carpet fractal patternmay be formed on a square area 200 with a process first dividing thesquare area into nine areas, and having the center area 204 removed,hollowed or otherwise made transparent to allow light to pass through,to use as a photonic opening. The process may then be repeated in eachof the remaining eight areas, resulting in the center areas 206 of theremaining areas being removed, hollowed or otherwise made transparent.The process may continue for any number of nested levels as desired orpractical.

The fractal dimension (D) of a fractal pattern is given by the formula:

D=Log(Obj)/Log(m)   (2)

where Obj is the number of repeating objects, and m is magnification.

FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of multi-level solar panelarrangement 100 where the photovoltaic modules and the photonic openingsof the successive higher solar panels 102 b-102 c are arranged inaccordance with a Sierprinski Carpet fractal pattern. The verticaloffset 108 a or 108 b between each pair of vertically adjacent solarpanels 102 a-102 b or 102 b-102 c may still be selected using equation(1), however, L in equation (1) is set to the length of the un-hollowedor non-transparent segment 110 a or 110 b of the upper solar panel of apair.

For embodiments with the Sierprinski Carpet fractal pattern applied toarrange the photovoltaic modules and the photonic openings of thesuccessive higher solar panels 102 b-102 c, L 110 a is about ⅓ of L 110,and L 110 b is about ⅓ of L 110 a. Thus, for embodiments, with fractalpattern applied to arrange the photovoltaic modules and the photonicopenings of the successive higher solar panels 102 b-102 c, L(i) may bereferred to as the “effective” segment length of the ith layer, and maybe given by the following formula:

L(i)=K*L(i−1)

-   -   where K a constant reduction factor for a specific fractal        pattern, and L(i) and L(i−1) are the effective segment length of        the ith and ith-1 layer, with L(0), the lowest layer having        length L.

In embodiments, a Sierprinski Carpet fractal pattern with a fractaldimension of 1.87, which approximates the fractal dimension of a numberof low light surviving plants, is used. In other embodiments, otherfractal patterns, in particular, those with a fractal dimension in therange of 1.6-1.8 may be used.

During experiment, it was observed that power output by multi-levelsolar panel arrangement 100 may be characterized in terms of the numberfractal layers included, as follows:

P(N)=1.36 P(N−1)   (3)

-   -   where P(N) is the total power generated after including N        fractal layers into solar panel arrangement 100, and    -   P(N−1) is the total power generated after including N−1 fractal        layers into solar panel arrangement 100.

Accordingly, the power yield per unit area occupied by a multi-levelsolar panel arrangement 100 may be more efficient than a similarly sizedsingle plane solar panel. In other words, multi-level solar panelarrangements 100 may require less surface area to produce Q units ofelectricity than prior art single level solar panels. Thus, a solar farmhaving a large collection of multi-level solar panel arrangements 100may provide substantial savings in surface areas to produce Q units ofelectricity than prior art single plane solar panels. Note thatmulti-level solar panel arrangement 100 may also be referred to asmulti-plane solar panel arrangement 100. The two terms may be usedinterchangeably.

Still referring to FIG. 1, in alternate embodiments where width 112 isone-half of length (L) 110, the photovoltaic modules and the photonicopenings of successive higher solar panels may be arranged with twoSierprinski Carpet fractal patterns of width L/2. In still otherembodiments, where the ratio of length (L) 110 to width 112 is of othermultiples, other fractal patterns may be employed to systematicallyallow more light to reach the lower solar panels.

in embodiments, multi-level solar arrangement 100 may further include acover 120 covering at least the top solar panel 102 c to provideprotection from the environment, such as wind, or rain. In embodiments,cover 120 may be constituted with transparent material that allows lightto pass through, such as transparent plastics. In embodiments, cover 120may be dome shaped, as illustrated in FIG. 6, which shows a side view ofcover 120. Further, the surface of cover 120 may be provided with anumber of dimples 122 to facilitate focusing of the light passingthrough cover 120. In embodiments, dimples 122 may be arranged in one ormore fractal patterns. In embodiments, the one or more fractal patternsmay likewise be one or more Sierprinski Carpet fractal patterns as shownin FIG. 2.

Referring now to FIG. 4, wherein a multi-level photovoltaic moduleaccording to various embodiments, is shown. As illustrated, multi-levelphotovoltaic module 400 may include a number of substrates, 402 a, 402b, and 402 c. Each of the substrates 402 a-402 c may include of numberof photovoltaic cells 406. Further, each of the substrates 402 a-402 cmay be vertically offset from each other by a distance or height (h)408. The vertical direction is depicted in FIG. 4 by arrow 414, witharrow 414 pointing to the upward direction.

In embodiments, h 408 for a pair of vertically adjacent layers may besimilarly determined based at least in part on the angle θ of incidenceof light during the expected operational period, e.g., for someterrestrial areas, between 10 o'clock and 2 o'clock, and the length 1410of the upper layer of the pair to reduce the shadow casted by the upperlayer of the pair onto the lower layer of the pair. Thus, for amulti-level photovoltaic module 400 with photovoltaic cells havinglength 1410, h 408 may be determined in accordance with the followingequation:

h=l*Tan(θ)   (4)

where Tan is the trigonometry function—tangent.

In other words, when designing for terrestrial areas with θ equals 65degrees, the vertical offset h may be set to 1.73 of the length l of thesubstrates 402 a-402 c.

Before further describing photovoltaic module 400, it should be noted,while for ease of understanding, photovoltaic module 400 is beingdescribed with three substrates 402 a-402 c, the present disclosure maybe practiced with less substrates, e.g., two, or more than threesubstrates.

Continuing to refer to FIG. 4, in embodiments, to further enhance theefficiency of multi-level photovoltaic module 400, a fractal pattern maybe iteratively applied to the successive higher layers to allow morelight to reach the lower layers, as earlier described for multi-levelsolar panel arrangement 100. In other words, for these embodiments,except for the bottom substrate 402 a, each of intermediate substrate402 b and top substrate 402 c may include two types of areas 404 a and404 b. Each of areas 404 a may include one or more photovoltaic cells406. Whereas, each of areas 104 b may include a number of photonicopenings, to allow light to travel through to the lower panels. Inembodiments, a photonic opening may be a physical opening (such asvias), while in other embodiments, a photonic opening may be aneffective opening constituted with materials that allow lights to travelthrough, e.g., glass.

In embodiments, photovoltaic cells 406, together with the photonicopenings separating them, may be arranged in one or more fractalpatterns. In embodiments, the photovoltaic cells 406, together with thephotonic openings separating them, of a substrate 402 c with length (l)110 and width (l) 112, may be similarly arranged in a Sierprinski Carpetfractal pattern of width (l) 202.

For these embodiments, the inter-layer offsets between each pair ofvertically adjacent layers may be likewise selected using equation (4),with l in equation (4) being set to the effective length segment of theupper layer of a vertically adjacent pair, as earlier described formulti-level solar panel arrangement 100.

In embodiments, a Sierprinski Carpet fractal pattern with a fractaldimension of 1.87, which approximates the fractal dimension of a numberof low light surviving plants, is used. In other embodiments, otherfractal patterns, in particular, those with a fractal dimension in therange of 1.6-1.8 may be used.

Accordingly, the power yield per unit area occupied by a multi-levelphotovoltaic module 400 may be more efficient than a similarly sizedsingle substrate photovoltaic module. In other words, multi-levelphotovoltaic module 400 may require less surface area to produce q unitsof electricity than prior are single substrate photovoltaic module. Notethat multi-level photovoltaic module 400 may also be referred to asmulti-plane photovoltaic module 400 or multi-substrate photovoltaicmodule 400. These terms may be used interchangeably.

Further, similar to multi-level solar panel arrangement 100, inalternate embodiments where width 412 is one-half of length (L) 410, thephotovoltaic modules and the photonic openings of successive highersubstrates may be arranged with two Sierprinski Carpet fractal patternsof width L/2. In still other embodiments, where the ratio of length (L)410 to width 412 is of other multiples, other fractal patterns may beemployed to systematically allow more light to reach the lowersubstrates.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variations can be made in the disclosed embodiments ofthe disclosed device and associated methods without departing from thespirit or scope of the disclosure. Thus, it is intended that the presentdisclosure covers the modifications and variations of the embodimentsdisclosed above provided that the modifications and variations comewithin the scope of any claims and their equivalents.

1-25. (canceled)
 26. A multi-level photovoltaic module for forming asolar panel of a solar panel arrangement having at least one level,comprising: a first substrate having a first plurality of photovoltaiccells and a plurality of vias, disposed at a first plane, the pluralityof vias interspersed among the first plurality of photovoltaic cells;and a second substrate having a second plurality of photovoltaic cells,and disposed at a second plane, vertically below the first plane;wherein the multi-level photovoltaic module is arranged with othersimilarly constituted multi-levels photovoltaic modules to form a solarpanel for one of at least one level of the solar panel arrangement, theformed solar panel having a plurality of photonic openings interspersedamong the multi-level photovoltaic module and the other similarlyconstituted multi-levels photovoltaic modules.
 27. The photovoltaicmodule of claim 26, wherein the plurality of vias are arranged in one ormore fractal patterns.
 28. The photovoltaic module of claim 27, whereinat least one of the one or more fractal patterns has a fractal dimensionof about 1.6-1.8.
 29. The photovoltaic module of claim 27, wherein atleast one of the one or more fractal patterns comprises a SierpinskiCarpet fractal pattern.
 30. The photovoltaic module of claim 28, whereina vertical offset between the first and second planes is selected basedat least in part on effective segment length of the second substrate.31. The photovoltaic module of claim 28, wherein a vertical offsetbetween the first and second planes is selected based at least in parton an angle of incidence of light on the second substrate during anexpected operating period.
 32. The photovoltaic module of claim 26,wherein a vertical offset between the first and second planes isselected based at least in part on a length of the first and secondsubstrates, wherein the first and second substrates have substantiallythe same length.
 33. The photovoltaic module of claim 26, wherein thesolar panel arrangement is a multi-level solar panel arrangement havingat least two levels, the formed solar panel is a first solar panel of afirst level, the plurality of photonic openings are first plurality ofphotonic openings and the other similarly constituted multi-levelphotovoltaic modules are first plurality of similarly constitutedmulti-level photovoltaic modules; and wherein a second plurality ofother similarly constituted multi-level photovoltaic modules arearranged to form a second solar panel of a second level of the solarpanel arrangement, with a second plurality of photonic openingsinterspersed among the second plurality of similarly constitutedmulti-level photovoltaic modules to form the second solar panel, thesecond solar panel of the second level being disposed vertically belowthe first solar panel of the first level.